Mixing device



Nov'. 13, 1945. t A.' HlRscHl 2,388,972

MIXING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1945 In ven/tor @www Patented Nov.` 13,1945 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'V MIXING DEVICE K Alfred Hirschi,Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 19, 1945, Serial No. 605,921

3 Claims. (Q1. 259-178) This invention relates in general toimprovements in mixing devices and more particularly to a mechanicaldevice for mixing mortar or the like in a xed flat bottomed trough.

To obtain batches of mortar of good quality at a reasonable cost theingredients should be mixed as rapidly as possible with a minimum amountof labor, and only freshly mixed mortar should be contained in eachbatch. When mortar is mixed by hand in a flat bottomed trough the oldmortar is easily removed before fresh ingredients are prepared formixing, but the length of time and the amount of labor required formixing are excessive. When mortar is mixed in a mixer of the rotatingbarrel type now in general use each batch contains a residue of materialfrom the preceding batch. This residue may have had time to set andinjure the fresh material being mixed. The mixer is also dimcult toclean, particularly when it is used for mixing plaster containingfibrous material, which adheres to the paddles and other internalelements of the mixer.

The above disadvantages may be obviated by using an easily cleanedmechanical device to mix the mortar in a trough of the type usuallyutilized'for hand mixing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved mixing device having all its parts easily accessible forcleaning.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved mixingdevice from which batches of mixed material may be obtained withoutleaving any residue. i

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing devicefor mixing material in a flat bottomed trough. i

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure l is a View in side elevation of one embodiment of the inventionin operating position over' a trough shown partially in longitudinalcross-section;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the embodiment shown inFig. l; and

Fig. 3 is an end View of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1showing-the trough in transverse cross-section.

Referring to the drawing, the trough 5 in which mortar is to bemixed isflat bottomed, of rectangular shape, preferably having its two endsbuilt as portions of cylinders of a predetermined radius havinghorizontal axes and having their surfaces tangential to the bottom ofthe trough. The trough is to be placed on a level area to provide a pathfor wheeling the mixer at a constant height with respect to the bottomof the trough.

The mixer comprises a frame 'l characterized by a beam portion 8carrying a cross handle 9. The frame is provided with a Wheel IIJ forpartially supporting the frame on the ground while the mixer is beingmoved in a direction parallel to the sides of the trough. Frame 'lsupports a rotary shaft II mounted in suitable bearings I2. When themixer is in the operating positionA shown on the drawing the shaftextends later- Y ally of Wheel I0 over trough 6 and is horizontal withits axis parallel to the axis of the wheel. Bearings I2 are preferablymounted in a portion of frame 1 forming a bracket I3 mounted on themajor portion of the frame through a hinge I4.

When bracket I3 is swung out as shown on the drawing it is disposed in avertical plane parallel to the axis of Wheel IIJ. Hinge I4 however isinclined With respect to the vertical so that the bracket may be swungback toward beam 8 in such position as to clear the ground when handle 9is allowed to rest on the ground. Shaft I I is then approximatelyperpendicular to the axis of wheel Ill. The bracket may be held securelyin either position by a detachable brace rod I5. When bracket I3 isswung back the mixer is supported by wheel Il) and by a second wheel I'Imounted on a second bracket I6.

Bracket I3 may comprise a pair of feet I8 for partially supporting framel on the bottom of trough 6," the feetsliding on the bottom of thetrough during movement of the mixer. The feet are preferably oftriangular cross-section as shown in Fig, 2 so as to scrape the sides oftrough 6 when moved in contact therewith. The upper portion of bracketI3 preferably consists of a hollow aperturcd member I9 provided with adetachable coupling for connecting it to a water hose 2D. The outer endof bracket I3 may be partially supported on the Iground by an additionalWheel similar to Wheel I0 if desired.

Shaft I I is provided with suitable mixing means such as paddles 2|distributed over part of its length and assembled on the shaft atdifferent angles. The paddles are preferably curved, of a length equalto the radius of the ends of trough 6. The paddles may accordinglyscrape each end area of the trough over its entire height when the axisof shaft II is brought into coincidence with the axis of the endcylindrical surface. Feet I8 are of such length that the paddles reachsubstantially the bottomV of the trough for all positions of the mixerbetween the ends of the trough.

A common motor is provided for driving wheel I0 and shaft II at speedsin a predetermined ratio. The motor may be a gasoline engine 22 or anelectric motor and may be mounted on frame 'l or set on the ground. Whenthe motor is mounted on the frame, the transmission between the motorand shaft Il preferably comprises a pair of speed reducing pulleys 23,24

connected by a belt 25, pulley 23 being mounted on a countershaft 21.The latter is connected by a pair of equal gears 28 to another shaft 29.Shafts 21, 29, which therefore rotate in opposite directions, carry apair of sprockets 30, 3l connected by ua chain 32 to a sprocket 33.

Sprocket 33 is mounted on frame 1 for rotation in alignment with shaftII, with which it is connected through a detachable coupling such as aclaw coupling 34. This coupling is provided with only one pair of clawsto allow disengagement of its component parts when bracket I3 is swungback against frame 1 from the position shown. Sprockets 30, 3| aremounted idle on their shafts and may be selectively driven by theirshafts through a pair of clutches 36, 31 controlled from the handlethrough a control rod 38.

- Shaft 21 may be connected with another shaft 39 through a second speedreducing drive comprising pulleys 4D, 4I connected by a belt 42.

Pulleys 40, 4I are preferably V-grooved pulleys of any of the knownadjustable pitch types to permit varying the speed relation of shafts21, 39. Shaft 39 is connected to wheel I0 through a transmission similarto that connecting shafts 21, II. This second transmission comprises areversing shaft 43 connected to shaft 39 through gears 44, a pair ofsprockets 46, 41, a pair of clutches 48, 49 selectively operable bymeans of a control rod 50, a chain 5I and aisprocket 52 mounted on wheelI0. The speed of engine 22 may be regulated by means of a throttlecontrol rod 53.

The mixer being brought into the position shown on the drawing, thedryingredients are placed into the trough. Control rods 38, 50 aremanipulated to engage clutches 38, 48 to cause wheel I0 and shaft II toturn counterclockwise when viewed as in Fig. 1. The mixer is held by theoperator through handle 9 to guide it in its movement from one end ofthe trough to the other. When shaft Il reaches the other end of thetrough, clutches 36, 48 are disengaged and clutches 31, 49 are engagedto reverse the direction of rotation of wheel ID and of shaft II.

The mixer is thus caused to travel continually back and forth during theentire mixing operation. After the dry ingredients have been mixed toforma homogeneous mass the required amount of water is added thereto, atleast part of the water being introduced by means of hose 2U. The waterissues from member I9 as a spray directed toward shaft I.I and paddles2l. This spray washes the shaft and the paddles, thus prevventingaccumulation of mortar thereon.

In order to render the mixer usable with troughs of different widths thepaddles extend over a portion of the length of shaft II less than thewidth 0f the narrowest trough to be used. During the back and forthmovement of the mixer, handle 9 is guided by the operator to cause thepaddles to follow alternately the one and the other side of the trough.Feet I8 prevent the paddles from riding on the edges of the trough andalso scrape the sides of the trough clean of mortar. Wheel IU ispreferably provided with a pneumatic tire to enable both feet I8 tofollow the bottom of the trough while the wheel follows the rugositiesof the area over which it travels. Y When a batch of mortar has beenmixed the mixer is stopped and handle 9 may be rested on the ground, themixer being brought to one end of the trough and afterwards to the otherend so that the trough may be cleaned completely of mortar. Anotherbatch may then be mixed in the manner above outlined. At the end of aworking period hose 20 is detached from member I9, brace rod I5 isremoved, bracket I6 is swung down to bring wheel l1 to ground level,bracket I3 is swung back against frame 1 and brace rod I5 replacedbetween a suitable socket on frame 1 and bracket I3 to secure thelatter. Bracket I3 and shaft II secure bracket I6 in its position. Themixer may then be tipped to clear the edge of the trough and wheeledaway on wheels II, I1.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent that various changes andmodications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A device for mixing mortar in a fixed flat bottomed trough comprisinga frame, a wheel mounted on said frame for supporting said frame at aconstant height above the bottom of the trough, a bracket hingedlymounted on said frame, a shaft mounted on said bracket and having itsaxis parallel to the axis of said wheel when said bracket is swung outfrom said frame and having its axis approximately perpendicular to theaxis of said wheel when said bracket is swung back against said frame,mixing means on lsaid shaft, and a motor connected with said shaft fordriving the same.

2. A device for mixing mortar in a fixed flat bottomed trough comprisinga frame, a motor mounted on said frame, a wheel mounted on said framefor supporting said frame at a constant height above thebottom of thetrough, a bracket hingedly mounted on said frame, a shaft mounted onsaid bracket and having its axis parallel to the axis of said wheel whensaid bracket is swung out from said frame and having its axisapproximately perpendicular to the axis of said wheel when said bracketis swung back against said frame, mixing means mounted on said shaft,and a detachable connection between said motor and said shaft foroperatively connecting said motor with said shaft when said bracket isswung out to bring the shaft above the trough.

3. A device for mixing mortar in a xed fiat bottomed trough comprising aframe, a Wheel lmounted on said frame for partially supporting saidframe on the ground, a bracket hingedly mounted on said frame, a foot onsaid bracket forpartially supporting said frame on the bottom of thetrough when said bracket is swung out from said frame, a shaft mountedon said bracket and having its axis parallel to the axis of said wheelwhen said bracket is swung out from said frame, a motor connected withsaid shaft for driving the same, a second bracket hingedly mounted onsaid frame, and a second whee1 on. said second bracket for cooperatingwith the rst said wheel in supporting said frame when said secondbracket is swung down and the first said bracket is swung back againstsaid frame.

ALFRED HIRSCHI.

